On October 24 in Kropyvnytskyi at the Theater of Masters, celebrations took place to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the public organization "Kirovohrad Oblast Football Association."

Representatives of the football community from all corners of the region gathered at the event — coaches, referees, players, officials, and enthusiasts who have developed and popularized football in Kirovohrad for three decades.

The celebration brought together not only football activists but also representatives of the oblast military administration, local councils, educational institutions, sports authorities, and territorial communities.

Photo by KOAF

Special guests at the celebrations were President of the Ukrainian Football Association, Honored Master of Sports, Hero of Ukraine, and head of FIFA's Committee on the Future of Football Andriy Shevchenko, First Vice-President of the UFA Artem Stoyanov, and General Secretary of the UFA Igor Gryshchenko. Along with Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sport Viktor Bezsmertnyi and Chairman of GS "KOAF" Ihor Murdiem, they honored over 100 individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of football in the oblast.

Photo by KOAF

Among those honored with medals from the Ukrainian Football Association for their significant contribution to the development of football were Honored Coaches of Ukraine Vadym Bondar (the first coach of Andriy Pyatov) and Yuri Kevlich (the first coach of Yevhen Konoplyanka), the first head of KOAF Volodymyr Gurskyi, president of FC "Agrotech" (Tishkivka) Serhiy Sauis, and coach of this club Oleksandr Mizenko.

Veterans of football, directors of children's-youth schools and futsal clubs received honorary certificates from the UFA, including Vadym Darenko, Oleksandr Kovalenko, Oleg Koluka, Andriy Antonov, Oleksandr Korinnii, and others.

Photo by KOAF

The Order "For Merit" was awarded to the heads of Oleksandriia District Football Association Ihor Kostyr, Hryhoriivka District Association Serhiy Horbachov, Znamianka Association Oleksandr Zamurenko, Svitlodok District Association Serhiy Lysitskyi, veteran of Znamianka football Anatolii Holiavtenko, FIFA assistant referee Andriy Skripku, president of FC "Ingul" (Perovo) Yevhenii Fomenk, and head coach of FC "Zirka" (Kropyvnytskyi) Samir Gasanov.